Automatic valve for steam fire-engines, &amp;c.



No. 597,097. Patented Apr. 8, I902. A.MAYER AUTOMATIC VALVE FOR STEAMFIRE ENGINES, 8w. (App1 ication filed Nov. 29, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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Niirnn STATES ATET FFICE.

AUTOMATIC VALVE FOR STEAM FIRE-ENGINES, 800.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,097, dated April 8,1902.

Application filed November 29, 1901. Serial No. 83,963- (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ALVARADO MAYER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit,countyof Wayne,State of Michigan,have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Valves for Steam Fire-Engines, &c.; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertaius to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification. I

My invention has for its object a valve for steam fire-engines and forhydrants; and it consists of the construction, combination, andarrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a viewin vertical section, showing the wing in normal position. Fig. 2 is aview in vertical section at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is aview incross-section on the line 3 3, Figs. 1 and 2.

Myinvention relates to that class of valves for use with steamfire-engines wherein the water-pressure operates a relief-valve toperinit the water passing through the reliefvalve and to return to thesuction of the pump or engine, as when the nozzle of the hose connectedwith the valve is closed. To this end in certain of its features'mypresent invention is an improvement upon a valve of this nature embodiedin United States Letters Pastent No. 398,841, granted to me March 5, 189.

In carrying out my invention, Ct represents the valve-case, Z) being theinlet-opening of the case and c the outlet-opening thereof. The chamberd of the valve-case, with the openings 1) and 0, forms ahorizontalwaterway therethrough, to be connected with the engine or pump and tothe hose in the usual manner. At the top of the waterway the case isprovided with a chamber 6, communicable with the chamber (Z, the chamber6 being closed with a cap f. At one side of the chamber e is areturn-opening g to connect with the customary return-pipe to thesuction of the pump. A valve-seat h is formed in the base of the chamber(2, and i is a relief-valve to seat thereupon, said valve controllingthe passage of water from the chamber 01 through the return-opening g. Ascrew-stemj passes through the cap f and has a threaded engagementtherein, by which the extent of the movement of the reliefvalve isgoverned. The relief-valve is provided with an upwardly-extended portionit, having a watertight engagement in the upper portion of the case, asshown, the upper portion of said valve being of wider diameter than thelower portion thereof. The valve iis constructed with a chamberl,openingthroughtheupperportion 71: of the valve into the portion of the chambera abovethevalve. Thelower portionofthe valve is formed with an orificeor, leading from the chamber l through the valve, whereby the chambers Zand (1 may communicate the one with the other. Within the chamber at isa fixed stem 71, which may be supported therein in any suitable manner,as byasupportp,having a threaded connection with the case. This stem isconstructed with a channel q, opening upward therethrough, the upper endof said stem preferably entering a sleeve 1 of the valve 2 and spacedtherefrom, as shown at s, sufficient to permit the passage of waterupward between the sleeve and the upper portion of the stem. The channel1 has a diaphragm tlocated therein, the wall of the stem being formedwith lateral channels a and 12 above and below said diaphragm. About thelower end of the stem is a hub w, carrying a wing w, the pressure of thewater entering the case moving said wing around in line with thewaterway, as indicated in Fig. 3. A spring y exerts its tension uponsaid wing to restore the wing to normal position when the pressure ofthe water is released. Any desired tension may be given to the spring inany suitable manner, as by a collar .2 upon the stem m, said collarengaged with one end of the spring and provided with a set-screw,(indicated by the numeral 1.) The hub to is provided with a chamber 2,communicable with the chambers L6 1; when in normal position and wherebyopen communication may be alforded through the entire stem m. When,however, the wing is thrown around out of normal position, obviously thecommunication of the channels a o is out off.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When the water is permitted to enter the chamber 61, the wing x isthrown about into line with the waterway b d 0, cutting off thecommunication of the channel q through the stem m. At the same timewater passes upward through the channel 5 and through the channel m intothe chamber Zto the top of the valve t', seating said valve. Themomentthe water ceases to flow through the said waterway, as when thenozzle of the hose is shut off, the pressure raises the valve, wherebythe water passes from the chamber d through the opening g and back tothe suction of the pump. When the Water is permitted to flow againthrough the said Waterway, the pressure of the water that has risenthrough the chamber Z closes the valve 1'. When the wing at is restoredto normal position, the water from the chamber Z drains ofi through thechannels m and q to the outlet end of the channel q and is discharged tothe ground. It will be observed that the working parts of the deviceconsist of the wing upon the stem n with the valve t. When the water haswasted through the channel q to the ground, the valve 4. is open, whichis its normal position, the valve remaining in open position until thewaterway is again open, so that the water can flow upon the top of thevalve and close the valve. Should the adjusting-screw j be set too closeto the adjacent portion of the valve, so as to close the upper end ofthe opening m, still I provide for the admission of the water into thechamber 1 by a branch opening 3, communicating with the channel It willbe observed that the valve is forced to and from its seat bywater-pressure. The moment the water ceases to flow through saidwaterway the force of the water behind the wing is the same as that infront there of, so that the spring Q/ will restore said wing to normalposition. The waste-opening q is made larger than the upper end of theopening on to the top of the valve. The upper portion Zc-of the valveforms the piston of the valve. When the engine is at work and the wateris passing through the waterway, it also passes up through the valveupon the enlarged portion or piston of the valve, whereby the pressurethereupon will seat the valve and hold the valve seated until thepressure is relieved by the wasting away of the water upon the valve inthe manner described. The water passing through the valve returns, asalready noted, to the suction-pump until the hose is opened and thepressure upon the valve is removed.

It will be seen that the valve is automatic in its operation and thatthe wing swings around behind the stem in open position entirely out ofthe way. The wing is preferably constructed with a slight offset, asshown at 5, whereby the water-pressure will more effectually exert itsforce against the wing. A

post 6 forms a stop for the wing when in normal position.

What I claim is-- 1. A valve embodying a valve-case provided with awaterway therethrough having in combination therewith a valve opened bywater-pressure seating above said waterway, an aperture leadin g throughsaid valve to admit water pressure thereupon to seat the valve, a stemwithin the case provided with a channel-opening through both endsthereof, an oscillatory spring closing device upon said stem actuated inone direction by water-pressure to open and close communication throughsaid stem.

2. A valve embodying a valve-case provided with a lower and with anupper chamber communicable the one with the other a valve in the upperchamber controlling said communication, an aperture leading from the upper chamber, a stem in the lower chamber provided with a channel-openingthroughboth ends thereof, a channel leading through said valve, to admitwater upon the top of the valve, an oscillatory device upon said stemactuated by water-pressure to closecommunication through said stem, andmeans to return said wing to normal position and open communicationthrough said stem.

3. A valve embodying a valve-case provided with a waterway therethroughhaving in combination therewith a valve opened by water-pressure seatingabove said waterway an aperture leading from the case above thevalve-seat, an aperture leading through said valve, a channel stem andan oscillatory wing provided with a hub upon said stem, said stemprovided with a diaphragm intermediate of the extremities of the channelthere within, orifices above and below said diaphragm communicating withthe channel and leading through the side of the stem, the hub of thewing provided with a chamber to register with said orifices in the stemwhen the wing is in closed position and to cut off the communication ofsaid channels when the wing is in open position.

45. In combination a valve-case provided with a waterway therethroughand with an aperture above the waterway, a relief-valve actuated bywater-pressure to control communication of said waterway through saidaperture, means to admit water-pressure above said valve, a stemprovided with a waste= channel to carry off the water from above thevalve, and an oscillatory self-closing wing provided with a hub uponsaid stem to control the passage of water through said chan nel, saidwing actuated by water-pressure to close said channel.

5. In combination a valve-case provided with a waterway therethrough andwith an aperture above the waterway, a relief-valve actuated bywater-pressure to control communication of said waterway through saidapswing by water-pressure out of inormal position and into positionbehind said stem.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

ALVARADO MAYER. Witnesses:

N. S. WRIGHT, J. M. POLAND.

